Ricki McManuis, senior vice president of corporate communications, has been named president of the Riverside Community College Foundation Board.

"The foundation is dedicated to advancing academic excellence and opening access to higher education to more area residents," said McManuis. "Each year the foundation awards scholarships from its $8 million scholarship fund."

This work dovetails with McManuis role with the Altura Credit Union Foundation, which this year awarded $42,000 in college scholarships to local students.

Table Officers Named at MNCUF

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Board of Directors has named its table officers.

The following board members will serve a one-year term: Chuck Albrecht, Mid-Minnesota FCU; Mary Hansen, Mayo Employees FCU; Lynn Kothe, North Memorial FCU; Kristi Mukomela, Novation CU; and Judy Root, Bluestone FCU.

Mukomela was re-elected to serve as the MNCUF board chair, along with Kothe as vice chair and Root as secretary/treasurer. Mukomela is serving her fifth year on the board, Kothe and Root are in their fourth terms, and Hansen is in her third. This is Albrecht's first year on the MNCUF Board.

"The foundation has created a three-year strategic plan and is currently working toward achieving the goals we set in that plan," Mukomela said. "Our vision is to have all Minnesotans achieve financial independence, and our mission is to provide resources for credit unions and communities to prosper and thrive."

In 2007, MNCUF helped fund the Minnesota Credit Union Network's Small Credit Union Conference, the international partnership with Paraguay, and provided educational grants for credit union professionals and volunteers.

The MNCUF was founded in 1969 to serve as a charitable arm of the Minnesota credit union movement.

Point West CEO Joins Leadership Board

PORTLAND, Ore. — Point West Credit Union President/CEO Robert Barzler has recently joined the Oregon Business Leadership Network Board of Directors as treasurer.

Barzler's long list of current community involvement also includes serving as treasurer for the Albina Rotary Club, financial secretary for the Lincoln Street United Methodist Church, board member for the Oregon Credit Union Foundation and volunteer reader for the S.M.A.R.T. reading program in Portland public schools. He also serves on the Willamette Business Group Board of Managers and the Credit Union Financial Alliance Board of Directors in a professional capacity.

The Oregon Business Network is an employer-led organization that seeks to improve employment prospects and consumer choices for people with disabilities by raising employer awareness around the positive benefits to business for actively including people with disabilities in the work force and as consumers. It provides workshops, training, tools and resources to make it easier for employers to support current employees with disabilities as well as those who become diagnosed with a disability during their working years. The network also assists business with the recruitment of qualified candidates with disabilities and establishment of a comfortable and supportive workplace for everyone.

Pierre Named to Scott CU Board

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — After two years as a Scott Credit Union associate director, Don Pierre has become one of the nine people who serve on the board.

"Our board of directors consists of members who are volunteers that consistently provide strategic direction with our members' financial well being as our priority," said Scott CU President/CEO Frank Padak. "Don has served on our board as an associate in the recent years and is really committed to our membership and helping each member make the most of their money."

Pierre served for 24 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a senior master sergeant. He has served 22 years in Federal Civil Service with the Air Force.

Pierre also has 28 years of experience in contracting career programs, including contract negotiations and administration, management and supervision of contract airlift programs with the Air Force Mobility Command. He has five years of experience as an international agreements negotiator and deliberate plans manager for the USAF in the Republic of Korea.

Pierre holds a bachelor's degree in work force education and development from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He is a member of P.G. Porter Lodge 142, Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of Scott VFW Post 4183 and a volunteer tutor for the adult literacy program for the St. Clair County Regional Office of Education.